Chad Anheliger believes he’s fighting for his job at UFC Vegas 88: “I’m expecting an exciting fight and a big finish”

Chad Anheliger says he’s fighting for his job on Saturday at UFC Vegas 88 against Charalampos Grigoriou.

Anheliger is entering his fourth UFC fight and is 1-2 in the promotion and on a two-fight losing skid. He’s coming off a third-round submission loss to Jose Johnson which was frustrating for him as he says he didn’t feel like himself in the Octagon.

“It was really frustrating, I didn’t feel great, didn’t fight great and it showed,” Anheliger said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. “He took advantage. I’m not sure what was wrong, but on fight day, I just didn’t have a great fight, my energy felt low. I wasn’t executing my game plan and this is all props to my opponent, he made those things happen. I felt like crap and felt tired in there for the first time in my career.”

After the fight in November, Chad Anheliger wanted to get back in there as quickly as possible, which is the case as he will return at UFC Vegas 88 against Charalampos Grigoriou. However, he says when he was offered this fight he wasn’t too familiar with his opponent.

“I didn’t know who he was before but he has some striking accolades, but not a ton of MMA experience. Matchup-wise, I think my experience in the cage is really going to help,” Anheliger said.

Entering this fight, Anheliger says this is do-or-die for his UFC career, as he knows he needs to win to remain with the promotion.

“Definitely is and I’m treating it that way,” Anheliger said. “I need to win if I’m going to stay doing what I love to do and having the best job in the world with the UFC. I’m leaving no stone unturned, I’m doing everything in my power to get the victory, I’m not leaving Vegas with a loss like that.”

Ultimately, Chad Anheliger has full confidence he will get his hand raised and keep his UFC job. Anheliger believes his cardio and pace will be too much as he expects to wear down Grigoriou.

“I’m going to wear him out. I’m going to take it to him on the feet and he won’t have any other options as his wrestling and jiu-jitsu aren’t as good as mine,” Anheliger said. “He’ll be hung out to dry and I’ll take him out. I’m going to tire him out and I think I will be able to knock this guy out.”

If Anheliger does get his hand raised on Saturday he isn’t sure what it does for him in the division. But the goal for Anheliger is to get on the next Canada UFC card and continue to be a UFC fighter.

“I need to just get this win. I need to prove I belong with the best guys. But, there is some pressure to fight well. I don’t want to just sneak out a win, I want to put on an exciting fight. This is fighting but it is also entertainment. I need to keep my job and use this as an opportunity to show what I’m made of. I’m expecting an exciting fight and a big finish,” Anheliger concluded.